What to Do in Spring!
Jobs in the Garden:
- Prune Spring flowering shrubs as they finish blooming.
- Roses and fruit trees should be pruned by early March.
- Spray fruit trees only if dormant. It may be too late if buds are showing colour.
- To prepare for planting, spread compost/manure on flower and vegetable beds.
- Fertilize evergreens and trees if growth is required or colour is poor, using a high nitrogen fertilizer.
Planting:
- Any hardy containerized plants can be planted.
- Bare root planting season is until late March. Balled and burlapped tress are available now and can be planted until May.
- Raspberries and strawberries are available during March for planting as inexpensive bare root plants.
- Small fruits such as blueberries, grapes, kiwi, blackberry, etc. are ready now.
- Summer bulbs are arriving now for planting. For example, lilies, montbretia, nerines, glads and a dahlia can be planted as the soil warms up.
Lawns:
- Lime could be applied now and moss control when the weather is dry.
- You can fertilize in March with a high N (nitrogen) product and continue on a 6 week schedule.
- Aerate lawn if required to solve such issues as poor drainage and puddles.
- New lawns can be seeded when soil warms up in late March. Prepare soil as soon as dry enough to work.
Perennials:
- Divide and move plants by late March, if required. Trade your surplus plants at our 'Perennial Exchange' on March 20th.
- A great selection of perennials is available now for planting.
- Fertilize or mulch beds with compost to enrich the soil.
- Watch that weeds do not get out of hand among the perennials. This seems to be the biggest problem growing perennials.
Seeding:
- Seed catalogues are a good source for hard to get varieties if not available in store racks.
- March is the time to plant most seeds if facilities are available.
- Use the 6 week rule if not sure of seeding date. For example, plant seeds indoors 6 weeks before planting outdoors.
- When planting seed, plan on enough room for the transplants to be grown on.
- Cold frames will speed up growth of plants and harden tender plants.
- Direct seeding can be done on the hardiest plants such as sweet peas.
Annuals
- You should not be planting most types of annuals outdoors until mid April!!
- Do prep work now to beds. Spread compost, manure, etc. and work in lime and balanced fertilizer. This will pay great dividends later.
- Only hardy annuals can be planted, such as pansies, snapdragons and English Daisies.
- Come up with a plant to have some idea of your colour scheme and plant heights.
- Selection of annuals is getting better every year. Try some of the new introductions such as Proven Winners.
- Hanging baskets are popular, and could be planted later in March for a head start. Baskets will need lots of care as they mature.
Vegetables:
- In March, plant only hardy items such as brasicas types, lettuce or onions.
- Feed rhubarb and mulch with organic compost.
- Peas, leaf lettuce, radish, turnips and spinach can be seeded soon.
- Plan your herb garden. Locate as a perennial bed.
- Heat loving plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and melons, are set out in mid May.
- If space is limited, plant only high value vegetables or those varieties that you prize. Have a plan of what you want from your garden.
Spring Colour in the Garden
- Spring can be a very long season in our area.
- Most of our flowering trees and shrubs are Spring flowering.
- Expect a lot of colour to appear as this weather continues to warm up.
- We can have a flower in the garden almost every month of the year! It just needs some careful planning and co-operation from Mother Nature.
Visit the nursery regularly as our selection is constantly changing.
March 2010.


